Linden, American, Bare Root

American Linden (Tilia americana)

Also known as Basswood, the American Linden is a stately native tree prized for its sweetly fragrant flowers, pollinator value, and soft, workable wood. Found in rich forests throughout the eastern and central U.S., this large deciduous tree plays a vital ecological role in supporting native bee populations and providing shade in diverse planting systems. Its early-summer blooms are a magnet for pollinators, especially native bees, and its foliage feeds the larvae of numerous moths and butterflies.

Key Characteristics

• Top-tier nectar source for native bees
  American Linden blooms in early summer, just as many other spring nectar sources are fading. Its creamy-yellow flowers are rich in nectar and attract a wide variety of native bees, honeybees, and other beneficial pollinators. It's considered one of the most important bee trees in eastern North America.
• Host plant for several native moths
  The leaves provide food for the larvae of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Linden Prominent (Ellida caniplaga), and other moths, supporting healthy insect populations and food webs for birds and other wildlife.
• Excellent shade and canopy tree for diverse systems
  With its broad, dense canopy and tall, straight growth, American Linden is ideal for use in food forests, forest edge plantings, and as a long-lived shade tree in silvopasture systems or large permaculture designs.
• Traditionally used for medicine and fiber
  Indigenous and early settler communities used the inner bark for cordage and the flowers in calming herbal teas. The flowers have been traditionally used to support stress relief, mild anxiety, and respiratory health.
• Soil-building and forest-repair species
  Linden drops large quantities of nutrient-rich leaf litter, which helps build soil over time. Its fast juvenile growth and deep root system also make it suitable for reforestation and restoration of degraded forest soils.

Product Details

• Native range: Eastern and Central U.S., from the Great Plains to the Atlantic
• Plant life cycle: Deciduous Tree
• Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil requirements: Medium; prefers rich, loamy soils but is adaptable
• Mature height: 60–80 feet
• Bloom time: Early summer
• Bloom color: Pale yellow
• USDA Hardiness zones: 3–8

American Linden is a foundational native tree that supports pollinators, provides ecosystem shade, and enhances soil and habitat quality. Ideal for long-term canopy structure in regenerative landscapes and biodiverse forest gardens.